Electrolytic Cells Because hOw??

Question

If anode is place of oxidation, and the anode is negative & the cathode is site of reduction and positive in a galvanic cell HOW can you just say anode is + and cathode – in electrolytic cells? e- still flows from anode to cathode, oxidation still happens at anode, reduction still happens at cathode so HOW did the charge of the anode/cathode just change?

In: 1

Answer 1

The reaction at the anode is oxidation, and that at the cathode is reduction. The electrons are supplied by the species getting oxidized. They move from the anode to the cathode in the external circuit.